George Miller Finds His “Creative Brother” in the ‘Death Stranding’ Creator After Hideo Kojima Proves His Obsession With ‘Furiosa’
When it comes to the world of movies and filmmaking, there are few filmmakers whose work can be utilized across multiple mediums. George Miller, the director of the Mad Max franchise, has been widely acclaimed for his talent for creating detailed and visually appealing environments. With his recent release of Furiosa: A New Mad Max Saga, Miller has once again demonstrated his directorial skills, but this time, he has found globally acclaimed video game designer Hideo Kojima as his die-hard fan.
Hideo Kojima, who is known for his contributions to Metal Gear and Death Stranding series, has pointed to Miller’s work as one of the major inspirations behind his own games. His love for the Mad Max series has led him to fanboy Furiosa and director Miller.
Hideo Kojima Becomes George Miller’s Creative Brother
As Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga finally got released into theaters, the respect between George Miller and Hideo Kojima got deeper, as Miller found his creative brother in Kojima because of his like-mindedness, as both men love to create new worlds.
Hideo Kojima’s admiration for George Miller’s work is nothing new, but his reaction to Furiosa has taken his respect for the product to new heights. In a recent tweet, Kojima called Miller his “God” and his stories his “Bible.”
During a recent episode on Kojima Productions YouTube, Kojima got a chance to interview Miller, where he talked about how Furiosa‘s cinematic elements became a lesson for him while appreciating the work of Miller.
While talking about a scene where Furiosa and her mother leave on a motorbike, the trails of the tires were visible on the sand momentarily. After some time, they vanished due to the sandstorm. However, they still get tracked down by Dementus’ horde. Kojima said,
As we wonder how they were found, we see the dogs. And we realize it’s because of their sent, genius! I am always learning things like that from you. You tell the whole story visually without relying on dialogs.
Likewise, the mutual appreciation by Miller was also seen in the interview when he acknowledged his work and called Kojima his “creative brother,”
That’s wonderful that you say that. Because when I see Death Stranding, and I see the work you did. I feel like a brother, a creative brother, and it’s really wonderful. I am really humble and proud that you say that. I am really happy that you saw the movie, and I am really happy about your response.
During the premiere of Furiosa, Miller also revealed his desire for Kojima to make a Mad Max game. To show his love and respect for Miller, Kojima has even cast the director in his upcoming video game, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach as Drawbridge Captain, which is set in the year 2025.
Furiosa: A New Mad Max Saga Rules Japan’s Box Office
While Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga may have struggled at most international theaters, it has been great in Japan. The film became the first overseas film to open at the top of the Japanese box office in 2024, surpassing the opening figures of its predecessor, Mad Max: Fury Road.
According to Screen Daily, Furiosa, which was released on May 31, 2024, in Japan, earned about $2.05 million (¥318 million) in the opening weekend. Fury Road earned about $1.7 million (¥265 million). According to Box Office Mojo, the film made $54,463,537 in domestic circuit and $119,663,537 internationally.
Warner Bros. Japan credited the high audience turnout to the many release formats such as IMAX and 4D that encouraged multiple visits to theatres. Moreover, the studio has announced the so-called cheers where people can stand, clap, and repeat the lines of the film, which speaks about the movie’s audience appeal.
The success of Furiosa in Japan is quite remarkable as Japan has been shifting its focus towards domestic anime shows and movies. Nevertheless, Miller’s influence on Japanese creatives like video game designer Hideo Kojima is undeniable.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was released in theaters on May 23, 2024.
